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Judaism 101 

Judaism 101 is our congregation’s course for those seeking comprehensive introductory learning about Judaism.
Rabbi Block is the primary teacher for this program, which meets on Thursday evenings, 7-8:30pm.
All are welcome to this program, conducted with the rigor of an undergraduate college course, but requiring no prior knowledge.

Judaism 101 students range from congregants who have been Jewish all their lives to non-Jews in relationships with Jews,
from those converting to Judaism to those eager to be well prepared to raise Jewish children.

The course is free for Temple members, with a cost of $100 for all others.
For both members and others, books cost $72 for the whole set. (Couples taking the course together are welcome to share a set.)
For more information, please contact Rabbi Block.
For registration, please contact  the Temple office, 501-225-9700 or TempleSecretary@www.bnai-israel.us.

 

Judaism 101

Congregation B’nai Israel

Little Rock, Arkansas

5782 (2021-22)

August 26

Jewish Views of God

 

September 2

The High Holy Days:  Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

Reading:  A Guide to the Jewish Seasons, pp. 3-10, 27-44, 110-114, 123

 

September 9

The Pilgrimage Festivals:  Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot

Reading:  A Guide to the Jewish Seasons, pp. 45-70, 115-122, 153-156

 

September 23

Navigating the Prayerbook

 

September 30

Shabbat

Reading: Gates of Shabbat, all

 

October 7

Life Cycles 1:  Birth and Bringing a Child into the Covenant

Reading:  Navigating the Journey, pp. 3-16, 205-224

 

October 14

Life Cycles 2:  Jewish Education, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and Confirmation – Eileen Hamilton teaching

Reading:  Navigating the Journey, pp. 17-24, 149-154,

 

October 21

Life Cycles 3: Marriage (and Divorce)

Reading:  Navigating the Journey, pp. 25-54, 173-198, 225-230

 

October 28

Life Cycles 4: Conversion to Judaism

Reading:  Navigating the Journey, pp. 199-204

A Guide to the Jewish Seasons, pp. 157-161

 

November 4

Life Cycles 5: Death and Mourning

Reading:  Navigating the Journey, pp. 55-84, 231-254

 

November 11

Life After Death

 

November 18

Chanukah and Purim – Ellyn Polsky teaching

Reading:  A Guide to the Jewish Seasons, pp. 71-80, 107-110

 

December 2

Judaism and Christianity:  Similarities and Differences

 

December 9

Comparative Judaism:  Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, and more

Reading:  Navigating the Journey, pp. 85-148, 155-172

 

January 13

Jewish History 1:  The Tanach and its Time

Reading:  A Short History of the Jewish People, pp. 1-50

A Guide to the Jewish Seasons, p. 86

 

January 20

Jewish History 2:  The Rabbinic Period and Oral Torah

Reading:  A Short History of the Jewish People, pp. 51-70

 

February 10

Jewish History 3:  Medieval Jewish History

Reading:  A Short History of the Jewish People, pp. 71-122

 

February 17

Jewish History 4:  The Dawn of Modernity

Reading: A Short History of the Jewish People, pp. 123-198

 

February 24

Jewish History 5:  Holocaust – Guest Lecturer, Prof. Dorian Stuber, Ph.D.

Reading:  A Short History of the Jewish People, pp. 199-216

A Guide to the Jewish Seasons, p. 83

 

March 3

Jewish History 7:  The History of Israel I

Reading:  A Short History of the Jewish People, pp. 217-260

 

March 10

Jewish History 8:  The History of Israel II

Reading:  A Guide to the Jewish Seasons, pp. 84-85

 

Bibliography

Knobel, Peter S., Editor. A Guide to the Jewish Seasons. New York: Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2013.

Knobel, Peter S., Editor. Navigating the Journey. New York: Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2017.

Scheindlin, Raymond P. A Short History of the Jewish People. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.

Shapiro, Mark Dov, Editor. Gates of Shabbat, Newly Revised and Updated. New York: Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2016.